Level 9 Gymnastics Requirements: Skills on Every Event
Level 9 is the fourth optional level in USA Gymnastics’ Women’s Development Program, one step below Level 10. Routines on bars, beam and floor still need four Special Requirements and a minimum amount of difficulty, but for the first time that difficulty includes a “C” skill: at least three “A”, four “B” and one “C” on each event.
Contents
The scoring changes again too. A Level 9 routine that meets every requirement starts from 9.50, not 9.80 as at Level 8. To reach 10.0 a gymnast has to earn the rest: up to 0.20 in Composition Credit and up to 0.30 in bonus, for connected skills or one harder skill. Vault keeps a chart of values, but most vaults are worth less at Level 9 than at Level 8.
The requirements below are from the 2026–2030 Development Program optional rules and USA Gymnastics’ 2026–27 Rules & Policies.
Level 9 at a Glance
| Event | Special Requirements | Value Parts | Start Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault | Any vault on the Level 9 chart | — | 7.0 to 10.0, by vault |
| Bars | Two bar changes; a “B” flight skill; a second flight skill (“C”) or a turning skill (“B”); a “B” salto dismount | 3 A, 4 B, 1 C | 9.50 |
| Beam | Acro series with two connected flight skills; 180° split leap or jump; full turn; “B” aerial or salto dismount | 3 A, 4 B, 1 C | 9.50 |
| Floor | A pass with two saltos; three different saltos; dance passage with a 180° split leap; a “B” salto in the last pass | 3 A, 4 B, 1 C | 9.50 |
Each missing Special Requirement costs 0.50. Each missing Value Part costs its value: 0.10 for an “A”, 0.30 for a “B”, 0.50 for a “C”. Our guide to how USAG Start Value is calculated works through the arithmetic.
Who Competes Level 9?
A gymnast must have reached her eighth birthday and scored a 34.00 all-around at Level 8. An 8.50 on an event as an individual event specialist (IES) also counts. The score has to come from a live sanctioned meet; our guide to USAG mobility scores lists the move-up score for every level. The Level 8 requirements cover the level before.
Level 9 has local, sectional, State and Regional meets, and it has a championship of its own. The season ends at the Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships, for the top seven gymnasts in each age division from each region who scored at least 34.00 all-around.
Level 9 Vault
As at Level 8, each vault on the Level 9 chart carries its own value, and a vault that isn’t on the chart is void. If either of a gymnast’s two vaults isn’t allowed, her whole vault score is void. Some common choices, with the same vaults’ values one level down:
| Vault | Level 9 value | Level 8 value |
|---|---|---|
| Handspring; Yamashita | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| Handspring with 1/1 twist | 9.0 | 9.5 |
| Handspring with 1½ twists | 9.4 | 9.7 |
| Tsukahara tucked | 9.6 | 10.0 |
| Round-off, back handspring on, back tuck (Yurchenko tuck) | 9.6 | 10.0 |
| Yurchenko pike; Tsukahara pike | 9.7 | 10.0 |
| Yurchenko layout; Tsukahara layout | 10.0 | Not allowed |
| Yurchenko tuck with 1/1 twist; Tsukahara tuck with 1/1 twist | 10.0 | Not allowed |
| Handspring front tuck or front pike | 10.0 | Not allowed |
| Handspring with 2/1 twists | 10.0 | 10.0 |
A Yurchenko or Tsukahara tuck that starts from 10.0 at Level 8 starts from 9.6 at Level 9, so a gymnast who keeps the same vault gives up four tenths before she lands. A 10.0 vault at Level 9 needs a layout, a full twist added to a tucked salto, a handspring front salto or a double-twisting handspring; the layouts, twisting saltos and front saltos weren’t on the Level 8 chart at all. Our guide to Tsukahara and Yurchenko vaults explains the two entries. A spot during the vault voids it, a spot on the landing costs 0.50, and each gymnast gets two minutes of warm-up.
Level 9 Bars
| Special Requirement | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| 1. Bar changes | At least two bar changes |
| 2. Flight skill | One flight skill, at least “B”, not the dismount |
| 3. Second flight or a turn | A second, different flight skill, at least “C” (not the dismount); or a skill with at least a 180° turn, at least “B” (not the mount or dismount) |
| 4. Dismount | A salto dismount, at least “B” |
A flight skill on bars is one where the gymnast lets go of the bar and catches it again, such as a release from high bar or a move between bars; our guide to uneven bars release moves names the common ones. Level 8 asked for one “B” flight or turning skill; Level 9 asks for a flight skill and then a second flight or a turn on top of it.
All “A”, “B” and “C” skills are allowed. So are turning versions of “B” and “C” skills: the same skill with a ½ turn into reverse, L or mixed-L grip in handstand, or with a full turn to handstand. These are rated “D” or “E” but count as “C” at Level 9, and there is no limit on them. Beyond those, one other “D” or “E” skill is allowed, the first one performed. Any further “D” or “E” is restricted: it earns no credit and costs 0.50. Warm-up on bars is 2½ minutes.
Level 9 Beam
| Special Requirement | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| 1. Acro series | At least two acro flight skills directly connected (not the mount or dismount) |
| 2. Leap or jump | One leap or jump that calls for a 180° cross or side split |
| 3. Turn | At least a full (360°) turn on one foot |
| 4. Dismount | An aerial or salto dismount, at least “B” |
The acro series is the big step. At Level 8 only one skill in the series needed flight; at Level 9 both do, as in a back handspring connected to another back handspring or to a layout step-out. Our guide to beam requirements for Levels 6–10 compares each level.
All “A”, “B” and “C” skills are allowed, and so are all “D” and “E” dance skills, which count as “C”. One “D” or “E” acro skill is allowed, mount and dismount included, the first one performed; any further one is restricted. The routine may last up to 1 minute 30 seconds, and warm-up is two minutes.
Level 9 Floor
| Special Requirement | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| 1. Salto pass | One acro pass with at least two saltos, same or different, connected directly or through flight skills with or without hand support |
| 2. Three saltos | Three different saltos in the routine; aerials don’t count |
| 3. Dance passage | Two different leaps, jumps or hops, connected directly or indirectly, one a leap that calls for a 180° cross or side split |
| 4. Last pass | The last acro pass the gymnast starts must contain a salto, at least “B” |
The requirements are the same as Level 8’s except the last one: the final pass now needs a “B” salto, not an “A”. Our guide to floor requirements for Levels 6–10 follows the passes from level to level. Judges also deduct 0.20 for a Level 9 routine with no “C” salto anywhere in it.
As on beam, all “A”, “B” and “C” skills and all “D” and “E” dance skills are allowed, plus one “D” or “E” acro skill; further ones are restricted. Floor routines may last up to 1 minute 30 seconds, and warm-up is two minutes.
How Level 9 Is Scored
A routine on bars, beam or floor that meets every requirement starts from 9.50. Two kinds of credit can raise it to 10.0.
Composition Credit: up to 0.20
The routine earns 0.10 for each of two conditions on each event:
| Event | +0.10 | +0.10 |
|---|---|---|
| Bars | Two different “C” or harder skills | A “C” or harder dismount, or a “C” or harder skill connected to a “B” dismount |
| Beam | Two different “C” or harder acro skills (not the dismount) | A “C” or harder dismount, or a “B” or harder acro skill or a “C” dance skill connected directly to a “B” dismount |
| Floor | Two different “C” or harder saltos and a “B” salto | Two different “C” or harder dance skills |
Our guide to Composition Credit explains how it works at Levels 8 to 10.
Bonus: up to 0.30
Level 9 is the first Development Program level with bonus. A routine can earn either up to 0.30 in Connection Value, or up to 0.20 in Connection Value plus 0.10 for one harder skill. Connection Value rewards skills performed back to back: on bars, two directly connected “C” skills earn 0.10 or 0.20, depending on whether they include flight or turn; on beam, a “B” + “C” acro flight series earns 0.10 and a “B” + “D” series 0.20.
The 0.10 difficulty bonus goes to the first “D” or “E” skill in the routine, on beam and floor the first “D” or “E” acro skill. It is the one “D” or “E” skill the restriction rules allow, so another one costs 0.50 instead of earning more. On bars, the turning “D” and “E” skills that count as “C” don’t use up that allowance.
| Start from | Composition Credit | Bonus | Highest possible score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.50 | up to +0.20 | up to +0.30 | 10.00 |
For example, a beam routine with every requirement and both Composition Credits, plus a “B” + “C” flight series for 0.10 bonus, starts from 9.80. Our guide to how gymnasts earn bonus points compares bonus across programs.
Moving Up From Level 9
To move to Level 10, a gymnast needs a 34.00 all-around at Level 9, or an 8.50 as an individual event specialist, and she must have reached her ninth birthday. Level 10 removes the difficulty restrictions entirely, asks for three “A”, three “B” and two “C” skills, and starts from 9.20, with up to 0.30 Composition Credit and up to 0.50 bonus to earn. Our guide asking whether Level 10 is enough covers what comes after it.
A Level 9 gymnast who switches to Xcel instead can enter at the Sapphire division, once she has competed all-around at a sanctioned Level 9 meet and reached her twelfth birthday. Our guide to Xcel Sapphire explains that division.
Common Questions
What skills do you need for Level 9 gymnastics?
On bars, beam and floor: four Special Requirements and at least three “A”, four “B” and one “C” skill. Bars needs two bar changes, a “B” flight skill, a second flight or turning skill and a “B” salto dismount; beam needs a series of two connected flight skills and a “B” dismount.
What age is Level 9 gymnastics?
A gymnast must have reached her eighth birthday. There is no maximum age.
What score do you need to get to Level 9?
A 34.00 all-around at Level 8, or an 8.50 as an individual event specialist.
Why does Level 9 start from 9.50?
Because the last half point has to be earned: up to 0.20 Composition Credit for harder skills and dismounts, and up to 0.30 bonus for connections or one “D” or “E” skill.
How do Level 9 gymnasts qualify for Easterns or Westerns?
Through the Regional Championships: the top seven in each age division from each region go on, with at least a 34.00 all-around.
What score do you need to move up from Level 9?
A 34.00 all-around at Level 9, or an 8.50 as an individual event specialist, to move to Level 10.
Final Takeaway
Level 9 routines need four Special Requirements and at least three “A”, four “B” and one “C” skill on bars, beam and floor. They start from 9.50, and the rest is earned with Composition Credit (up to 0.20) and bonus (up to 0.30). Vault keeps its chart, from 8.5 for a handspring to 10.0 for a Yurchenko layout.
A gymnast reaches Level 9 with a 34.00 at Level 8, ends the season at the Eastern or Western Championships, and moves on to Level 10 with a 34.00 at Level 9.
Main Sources
- USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program, optional event rules charts, Levels 6–10 (2026–2030)
- USA Gymnastics 2026–2030 vault values, Level 9 and Levels 6, 7 and 8 (for the comparison)
- USA Gymnastics 2026–2030 cheat sheet, Levels 9 and 10 (Composition Credit, Connection Value, bonus and composition deductions)
- USA Gymnastics 2026–2027 Women’s Rules & Policies, Chapter 9: Development Program age, entry and mobility chart, types of competition and qualifying scores; Xcel entry chart